Diamond
mineralogy - Diamond is the hardest natural substance on earth.
Its name is in reference to its hardness (Greek - adamas - unconquerable).
A Diamond boasts a cutting resistance 140 times greater than corundum, which
is next on Mohís Hardness Scale. Only another Diamond is capable of polishing
a Diamond. Diamonds range in colour from clear to a sooty black. The majority
of Diamonds display yellowish tinges. Diamonds also form in the rest of
the colours of the rainbow, with the rarest being red then green, purple
and blue. Diamonds began being 'cut' in the sixteenth century to improve
their optical effects.

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Diamonds
- myths and lore - Diamond is often referred to as 'The King of
Crystals'. A highly valued gemstone, Diamond is believed to represent peace,
innocence, fidelity and serenity. According to ancient lore the magical
powers of a Diamond are only activated when the gem has been freely given.
Ancient civilizations believed Diamonds to be crystal lightening, splinters
of stars or the tears of Gods. The 'Cullian Diamond' is the largest Diamond
ever found. It originally weighed 3,106 carats. Another world renowned Diamond
is the famed 'Koh-i-noor Diamond'. Originally belonging to the Indian Raj,
it weighed 186 carats. Bought by the Shah of Persia and named the 'Mountain
of Light' (Koh-I-Noor), it was then sold and recut .It now is in the collection
of Britain's Queen Elizabeth and is believed to be 5000 years old. The 'Hope
Diamond' is another stunningly beautiful blue Diamond that weighs 44.5 carats.

Emerald
- mineralogy -
Significantly sized Emeralds are one of the world's most bewitching jewels.
Emeralds are a very fragile stone. The extreme and rare conditions under
which an Emerald is created often leaves them full of cracks and fissures
making their beauty especially vulnerable to damage. Fine quality Emeralds
are more valuable than Diamonds. Inclusions in Emeralds are often referred
to as 'jardin', French, meaning 'garden'. The inclusions in Emeralds tend
to resemble foliage. The 'jardin' in an Emerald is not considered a fault,
more often than not it is classified as evidence to support the genuineness
of the gem. The majority of Emeralds on the market today have received 'enhancements'
by being treated with colourless resins or oils. Columbia and Zambia are
the worlds major Emerald sources. The Emeralds hailing from Columbia are
especially fine compared to those specimens from other countries. Columbian
Emeralds are a succulent, emerald green without any hint of blue.

Emerald
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myths and lore
- Eternal life, peace and love are all symbolized by Emerald. Emeralds are
also considered to represent harmony, rebirth, romance and joie-de-vivre.
The colour of Emeralds pulse with life and is the embodiment of spring.
Emeralds were believed capable of soothing the soul and sharpening wits.
Wearing or carrying an Emerald is purported to bring good luck, dispel negativity,
or to strengthen love, intelligence, eloquence, and popularity. The name
'Emerald' can be attributed to the Old French, 'Esmeralde' and the the Greek,
'Smaragdos', both words meaning 'deep green'. Emeralds were believed to
have the ability to change colour in the presence of infidelity. Another
curious belief is that a mortal man would gain the ability to prophesy if
an Emerald was placed beneath his tongue. The Pharaohs of Egypt collected
Emeralds from mines as early as 150 B.C. Cleopatra was rumored to be truly
passionate for them. In South America, the Incas and Aztecs worshipped the
Emerald as a holy stone. 453 Emeralds weighing 1523 carats are said to be
set into the Inca's 'Crown of Andes'. Multitudes of Emeralds were kept safely
in the vaults of the Maharajahs and Marahinis of India, who firmly believed
the jewels brought luck and restored health and were an antidote to poisons.
The Indian city of Jaipur, both in the past and today is the world cutting
center for Emeralds. Emeralds are usually fashioned into a rectangular shape
with slanted corners, thus creating an elongated octagon (referred to as
the 'Emerald Cut). This step sided shape is very suited to the Emerald crystals
natural form.

Pearl
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mineralogy - A
Pearl is an organic gem and the only gem that doesn't require cutting, facetting
or polishing to reveal its intrinsic beauty to mankind. Pearls are created
inside of mollusks. When an irritant enters a mollusk, such as a grain of
sand or a parasite, it protects itself by coating the foreign invader with
calcium carbonate. The larger the Pearl - the more layers of calcium carbonate
(nacre) have been deposited to protect the 'creature'. 'Lustre' is the term
used to describe beauty seen when light travels through the 'nacre' of a
pearl. Pearls range in colour from pink to silver, cream, golden, blue,
black and white. The largest Pearl ever found weighs 450 carats. Cultured
Pearls (often referred to as 'Akoya Cultured Pearls') are 'farmed' in salt
water mainly along the coast of China and throughout central and southern
Japan. Virtually all Pearls on the market today are cultured. Tahitian Pearls
are 'born' from the 'black lipped' oyster. A 'Wonder of the South Seas',
Tahitian Pearls feature a sensual opalescent black hue.

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Pearl
- myths and lore -
Pearls are a true 'treasure of the sea'. Legends tell the tale of oysters
rising to the seas surface to accept dewdrop gifts from the Gods. Moonlight
metamorphosed the dew into luminous Pearls. Exotic and lustrous, the Pearl's
most universally believed ability is that it attracts love. Women in Italy
once made it common practice to wear Pearls in their hair to ensure romantic
success. Ancient Romans dissolved Pearls in 'love potions'. The Chinese
have long considered the Pearl to be a symbol of wealth, power and longetivity.
Hindus say that the wearing of yellow Pearls 'draws money'. Pearl-adorned
swords were used by Indians to honour the tears of sorrow wrought by battle.

Moonstone
- mineralogy - Moonstones vary from semi-transparent to opaque.
Moonstones are colourless, or yellowish with a pale (most often blue-white)
sheen. Important deposits of Moonstone are in Sri Lanka, but the gem is
also mined in Australia, Burma, Brazil, and India among other places. Moonstones
feature a 'milky translucence' that changes with every movement. Moonstone
is cut 'en cabochon' (with a domed top).

Moonstone
- myths and lore - The light of the moon itself seems to lurk in
the sensuous and intriguing depths of this gem. Moonstones are believed
to have the power to enhance one's femininity, draw love, dispel negativity
and evil influences, and to enhance psychic abilities (when held in the
mouth during a full moon). Once known as the 'traveler's stone', Moonstone
is considered to be a lucky and protective gem for those who travel. Hindus
thought shimmering Moonstones to be earthbound bits of moonbeams. The Indian
culture believes this elegant and subtly beautiful gem will arouse tender
passion, and holds them sacred.

Alexandrite
- mineralogy - Alexandrite is one of the most desired and rarest
gemstones. The first Alexandrite discovery occurred in Russia and was named
in honour of the Czar Alexander II. Alexandrite is characterized by its
mesmerizing ability to change colour in relation to different light sources.
Alexandrite looks bluish-green in daylight and then the colour becomes raspberry
to plum if moved to artificial light. The most distinct colour changes are
seen in thicker stones. An included form of the jewel is even rarer, and
known as Catís Eye Alexandrite. Alexandrite is now mainly mined in Sri Lanka
and Brazil. The original deposits were discovered in the Ural Mountains
in Russia in 1830, but have long since been worked out. The largest cut
stone is in the Smithsonian Institution in Washington and weighs an incredible
66 carats.

Alexandrite
- myths and lore - Alexandrite enchants the eye and fuels the imagination.
Certain legendary powers have now become associated with Alexandrite, stimulated
by its dramatic colour-changing ability. Mysterious and endlessly fascinating,
Alexandrite purportedly will bring 'balance' into the wearer's life, improve
their self -esteem and help them to experience great joy.